June 12, 2023

18 Min Read
Self-Storage Development and Zoning Activity: July 2022

Update 6/12/23 – Peak Management LLC received final site-plan approval to build YourSpace Self Storage in Milton, Delaware. The vote had been delayed until May to allow Peak to submit additional information about its design for stormwater management, facility lighting and landscaping. The final plan includes a single-story office comprising 2,400 square feet and a three-story building encompassing 109,000 square feet.

9/29/22 – The Newtown, Connecticut, Planning and Zoning Commission approved the project proposed by 19 Commerce Road LLC. The Sept. 15 vote was unanimous following some discussion with the developer. The facility will be built in phases on about 45% of the 5-acre site.

8/16/22 – Peak Management LLC received zoning approval to build YourSpace Self Storage in Milton, Delaware. Before voting 5-1 on Aug. 2, the planning and zoning commission discussed the size of the proposed facility but determined these concerns would be discussed during the site-plan review process. Plans include a front office along with a three-story, 113,000-square-foot building and a single-story, 5,500-square-foot structure.

8/15/22 – The Newtown, Connecticut, Inland Wetlands Commission approved a project proposed by 19 Commerce Road LLC. The July 27 vote was unanimous following some discussing. The developer had submitted additional documents since the commission’s July 13 meeting that satisfied their questions.

7/29/22 – The public hearing for the self-storage project proposed by 19 Commerce Road LLC continued on July 13, with engineer Larry Edwards of J. Edwards & Associates LLC presenting site-plan changes to address issues raised earlier by the Newtown, Connecticut, Inland Wetland Commission. Though the site’s five buildings can’t be narrowed, the new plan shortens some of the structures by 10 to 15 feet. Sloping also will help double the space between the edge of construction and the wetlands area. A driveway was also moved to make room for a small stormwater basin. In addition, the new plan detailed which trees will remain on site, with preference given to mature trees. No members from the public spoke, so commissioners closed the public-hearing process for the project. No vote was taken.

7/20/22 – The global self-storage development pipeline continues to be extremely dynamic. Inside Self-Storage regularly covers new projects being planned and approved as well as zoning and other municipal issues. Following is additional activity taking place in July 2022.

Affordable Family Storage intends to convert a former Walmart in Milwaukee’s Midtown Center to self-storage. An affiliate of the company recently acquired the 160,000-square-foot building at N. 60th Street and W. Capitol Drive for $3.28 million. Based in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Affordable operates 18 self-storage facilities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

All-In-1 Storage opened a facility in Bluefield, West Virginia. The property at 1136 Coal Heritage Road offers 400 traditional and climate-controlled units as well as portable-storage options.

Buskett Development Group is seeking a zoning change to expand a project under development in Van Nuys, California. Owner Gregg Buskett received approval in 2018 to build self-storage on multiple parcels he owns on the 6000 block of Woodley Avenue. He filed a planning application last month to add 80,000 more square feet. Expected to be complete in three years, the three-story facility will comprise 220,000 square feet. If approved, the expansion will require Buskett to raze 10 residential homes that were built in the 1950s. He’s also seeking permission to reduce the number of parking spaces and needs a conditional-use permit to allow the site to be constructed within 500 feet of a residential zone.

CT of Amsterdam LLC is developing a facility in Amsterdam, New York. The city has already approved four buildings for 115 Maple Ave., but the developer is seeking permission to add 10 more along with adjacent retail space across the 8.4-acre parcel. The first phase includes three 4,500-square-foot structures and one measuring 3,000 square feet. Combined, they’ll offer 168 units. The new proposal calls for additional buildings of equal size alongside the original four, with a 9,000-square-foot structure built behind them. In addition, the developer wants to add two climate-controlled buildings of approximately 9,000 square feet each, one of which would include the management office. More buildings containing larger units and retail space would be constructed at the rear of the site. CT is led by Rick Ramsey, co-owner of A-Metro Self Storage, which operates five New York facilities. He also owns Liedkie Moving & Storage and Metro Movers.

Elite Storage 325 opened in Early, Texas. The facility at 3393 Highway 183 N. offers climate-controlled, drive-up and vehicle-storage units. It’s owned and operated by Robert Wade, who also owns Seal Gymnastics.

Hardy’s Self Storage completed a phase-three expansion in Selbyville, Delaware, at its 32984 Lighthouse Road location. The project included the addition of 30,000 square feet and two electronic gates. The company has also begun work on a phase-four expansion that’ll add 35,000 square feet of self-storage as well as more than 100 vehicle-storage spaces. Hardy’s is a family-owned operation, with two facilities in Delaware and four in Maryland.

Kennards Self Storage, which operates 98 facilities in Australia and New Zealand, is converting a former Masters Hardware store in Roxburgh Park, Australia, as part of a mixed-use project. The company paid $35 million for the building and will transform it into more than 12,500 rentable square meters of self-storage in about 1,300 units. The property will continue to house three pre-existing retail businesses, and Kennards intends to construct multiple fast-food restaurants in the parking lot. Based in Sydney, the company is a family-owned business operating 680,000 square meters of self-storage. It has 10 projects under development.

Kirchhoff Acquisitions LLC intends to develop self-storage on land its under contract to purchase in Shelton, Connecticut. The project would involve adding three stories to a vacant portion of an existing 32,000-square-foot building, plus a separate four-story addition. The resulting facility at 915-917 Bridgeport Ave. would comprise 102,000 rentable square feet in 770 units. If approved, it’ll be managed by self-storage real estate investment trust (REIT) Extra Space Storage Inc. and branded under its name. Businesses operating in the existing structure, including a preschool, would remain. Kirchhoff Acquisitions is an affiliate of Poughkeepsie, New York-based Kirchhoff Cos., a real estate principal investment firm specializing in self-storage, student housing, multi-family and medical offices.

Peak Management LLC is seeking approval to build YourSpace Self Storage in Milton, Delaware. Plans for the property on Delaware Route 16 call for three stories comprising 123,000 square feet. The town council was expected to send the proposal to the planning and zoning commission for further review, as it would require a special-use permit. Peak operates 11 storage facilities in Maryland.

Pennsauken QOZ Self-Storage LLC is converting a former warehouse in Camden, New Jersey. Plans for the property near Admiral Wilson Boulevard include adding two levels to the existing single-story structure. It’ll comprise 157,000 square feet in 1,078 climate-controlled units. Pennsauken is based in Wilmington, Delaware.

Pogoda Cos., which operates 58 National Storage Centers locations, will open a new facility in Charlevoix, Michigan, on July 26. The converted Kmart at 6600 M-66 comprises more than 46,000 rentable square feet. The company intends to add covered and uncovered boat/RV storage this fall. Based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Pogoda operates more than 3.75 million square feet of self-storage space in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio.

SouthGate Cos. intends to convert a former Slumberland Furniture store in Iowa City, Iowa, into The South District Market, a mixed-use complex that includes retail, self-storage and outdoor entertainment space. The self-storage component would include about 600 units on two levels at the rear of the building. It would also include rentable offices or co-working space. It’s expected to be branded under Storelocal, a cooperative created by independent self-storage operators to offer member benefits with economies of scale. Based in Iowa City, SouthGate develops and manages commercial and residential real estate.

StoreAway intends to convert a former Debenhams department store in Swindon, England, to self-storage. The facility along The Parade could comprise up to 200,000 square feet in 900 units. If approved, work to the building’s bottom three floors and basement could begin next spring. StoreAway plans to preserve a retail element in the ground-floor frontage area. Property owner Meadow Partners is a co-applicant on the project. The building has been vacant since 2020. StoreAway launched earlier this year with plans to repurpose more than a quarter-million square feet of unoccupied shopping and leisure space to self-storage. It has additional projects underway in Basildon, Bath and Birmingham, England.

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. is converting a former Kmart in Lawton, Oklahoma, to storage. Plans for the building at 1050 N.W. 38th St. include 123,923 square feet in more than 800 climate-controlled units. U-Haul acquired the property in May. Established in 1945, it owns and manages more than 73.6 million square feet of storage space nationwide.

VanWest Partners, a Denver-based investment firm specializing in residential and commercial real estate acquisition, management and sales, is eyeing the former Home Oil property in Seattle for a possible self-storage development. Plans for the property at 1110 Elliott Ave. W. include a four-story building comprising 84,384 square feet, including one level of underground parking or storage. The structures have already been demolished, and the state Department of Ecology has deemed the site free of hazards.

The Georgetown, Texas, City Council approved the first readings on special-use permits for a pair of proposed self-storage facilities. The project on 7.3 acres at 1301 N.E. Inner Loop would comprise a new 128,100-square-foot, three-story building in addition to four existing single-story structures. The 3.4-acre development slated for 2701 E. University Ave. would include a three-story building comprising 120,060 of self-storage and 8,495 square feet of rentable commercial space. Both facilities are designed by San Antonio-based Mauldin Architects. Second-reading approvals are required for both projects. If approved, construction is expected to begin this year.

The Virginia Beach, Virginia, City Council approved a conditional-use permit for an unnamed developer to raze a former Wells Fargo building and build self-storage in its place. Plans for the 1.3-acre lot at 1612 Independence Blvd. include a three-story building comprising 79,320 square feet of climate-controlled storage.

7/8/22 – The global self-storage development pipeline continues to be extremely dynamic. Inside Self-Storage regularly covers new projects being planned and approved as well as zoning and other municipal issues. Following is activity taking place in July 2022.

19 Commerce Road LLC intends to build a self-storage facility on 5.6 acres in Newtown, Connecticut. If approved, the five-building site at 19 Commerce Road would comprise more than 37,000 square feet. The project is under review by the Newtown Inland Wetlands Commission, which recently discussed project plans for tree removal, stormwater management and potential buffering issues. A continuance of the public hearing is scheduled for July 13.

Arborwood Self-Storage LLC intends to develop a facility on an 8.8-acre parcel it recently acquired in Fort Myers, Florida. The property at the northwest corner of Daniels Parkway and Treeline Avenue would comprise 100,000 square feet of storage space. It’ll be branded under real estate investment trust (REIT) Life Storage Inc. Arborwood was represented in the land purchase by William Raveis Real Estate.

Bell & Associates Construction is converting the former Goose Creek Inn in Franklin, Tennessee, to Goose Creek Storage. Plans for the 9.25-acre property at 500 Old Peytonsville Road include roughly 39,000 square feet of self-storage per floor for a total of 156,136. Once complete, it’ll be branded as Go Store It, which operates 86 facilities. Nashville-based Smith Gee Studio is designing the project, with planning and design consultation by Kimley-Horn. Established in 1997 and based in Brentwood, Tennessee, Bell has constructed more than 1,000 projects across the Southeast.

U.K. self-storage operator Big Yellow Group PLC is developing a self-storage facility in Slough, England. The company purchased the site from industrial property investor Segro PLC. Plans for the £19 million structure include 62,000 square feet. It’s expected to open in summer 2024. As part of the purchase agreement, Big Yellow will surrender the lease of its existing Slough facility, which is leased by Segro, six months after the new site is complete. It operates 105 self-storage locations in the United Kingdom under the Big Yellow Self Storage and Armadillo brand names, with most concentrated in Greater London and Southeast England.

The East Lampeter Township, Pennsylvania, Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to recommend a zoning amendment that would allow self-storage and commercial-recreation facilities within a mixed-use zoning district. If formally approved, the measure would allow Campus Shoppes LP to include self-storage as part of the Square at Bridgeport mixed-use project at 1625 Old Philadelphia Pike. The developer intends to convert an existing five-story building into self-storage and apartments, with storage units on the first floor. The zoning amendment would restrict unit access to apartment residents only. The town and county planning commissions have 45 days to further review the amendment, after which a public hearing will be scheduled.

Coda Management Group, which operates six facilities under the One Stop Self Storage brand, is developing a new location in Bay City, Michigan. Plans for the 9 acres on 2 Mile Road include 74,650 square feet in 274 units and 130 vehicle-storage spaces. Construction is expected to begin this fall. Founded in 2009, Coda offers real estate development, design, construction and management services.

DXD Capital is developing a three-story self-storage facility on 2.1 acres in Las Vegas. The 1,163-unit property at 9580 W. Flamingo Ave. was designed by Studio Level 1, with ARCO/Murray Design Build serving as general contractor. The project is scheduled to be complete by July 2023. DXD has one other facility under construction in Las Vegas and another underway in Phoenix. The company has identified 12 other investment sites across multiple states. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, it’s a real estate and private-equity firm that leverages data technology to make opportunistic investments.

Global Storage Partners (GSP) is converting a former Sears store in Memphis, Tennessee, to self-storage. The building at 1200 Southland Mall will comprise 83,040 square feet in 854 units. It’ll be managed by REIT Public Storage Inc. and branded under its name. GSP secured a $4 million loan from Mag Mile Capital, a Chicago-based commercial real estate banking firm. It’s an affiliate of Global Building LLC, a Carlsbad, California-based commercial real estate investment and management firm.

Hamilton Builders LLC received approval from the Community Development Agency to construct a facility in Lexington, Nebraska. The project intended for the 4 acres south of Commerce Road will be built in three phrases and total 73,000 square feet. The first phase, which began last month, includes three buildings consisting of 27,000 square feet in 150 to 200 units. Phase two will begin next year and add four more structures comprising 36,000 square feet. The final 10,000-square-foot building will be developed in 2025 and contain larger units for vehicle storage. A fourth phase could be constructed on an adjacent 4-acre parcel. Hamilton Builders received $650,000 in tax increment financing to complete the $2.8 million project. The company specializes in construction and building erection, specifically steel frame.

KeepSafe Self Storage, which operates four Australian locations, is converting the former Soils Ain’t Soils landscaping store in Joondalup, Perth, to self-storage. Plans for the $13 million project on Winton Road includes a five-story building containing 900 units. KeepSafe is owned by KBH Group, a private-equity and venture-capital firm. The company also owns Coastal Storage Units, Welshpool Self Storage and Pier 21 Marina.

Steve Kresse intends to build a self-storage facility on 7.6 acres in Macedonia, Ohio. The seven-building project on Bavaria Road would comprise 60,750 square feet of self-storage and 2,025 square feet of office space. Planners postponed a review of the preliminary site plan until July 18.

Lighthouse Storage is building a facility at 992 E. Highway 60 in Hardinsburg, Kentucky. Expected to open this month, this location will specialize in contactless rentals. It’ll be the company’s ninth operating location. The company operates two facilities in Kentucky and five in Indiana, with four additional projects under development.

Lock Stock Self Storage intends to build a facility in Bangor, Wales. The Euston Road site would include 100 storage containers ranging from 330 to 1,340 square feet. Founded in 1999, Lock Stock operates 22 facilities, mostly in Wales.

Ridge Rentals LLC received conditional-use approval from the Cumberland Township, Pennsylvania, Board of Supervisors for a proposed self-storage facility, but the project still requires a construction variance from the zoning appeals board. At issue is the amount of construction required on the 4.7-acre sloped site at Fairfield and Willoughby Run Roads. The existing slopes appear to be from previous excavations rather than normal formations, according to Robert Sharrah, president of Sharrah Design Group, which provides surveying and civil-engineering services. If approved, the seven-building facility would comprise 44,500 square feet. Construction is scheduled to begin in October and expected to be complete next spring. Ridge Rentals principal Blake Slaybaugh also operates a Stor-It self-storage facility in Biglerville, Pennsylvania.

Safe N Lock Self Storage is developing a facility on Sunrise Highway in Copiague, New York. An existing structure will be partially demolished and rebuilt into a three-story building comprising 38,890 square feet of storage space. Expected to be complete in 2024, the facility will be managed by REIT Life Storage and branded under its name. Safe N Lock owns 18 self-storage locations in New York City and has eight projects under development.

A proposal by Stor-It Self Storage to expand its facility in McCall, Idaho, is facing opposition. The original plans for 207 N. 3rd St. included the addition of 668 units, but that has been reduced to 200 after discussions with community members. It would also include a building reserved for a future fire station, which could still be in the final plan by applicant Jeff Hatch of Hatch Design Architecture. The planning and zoning commission continued the discussion until October to allow the operator to refine the proposal. Founded in 1972, Stor-It operates 15 facilities in Boise, Caldwell, McCall, Meridian and Nampa, Idaho.

StoreAway has converted the former Lidl supermarket in Cheltenham, England, to storage. The building on Grosvenor Terrace comprises 34,000 square feet. Built in the 1970s, the structure had been vacant for nearly two years. StoreAway launched earlier this year with plans to repurpose more than a quarter-million square feet of unoccupied shopping and leisure properties to self-storage. The brand’s flagship store opened in Liverpool, England, in April. Additional projects are underway in Basildon, Bath and Birmingham, England.

New Sources:
The Newtown Bee, IWC Closes Hearing For Commerce Road Self-Storage Facility
Brownwood News, Chamber Holds Ribbon Cutting for Elite Storage
BusinessLive, Swindon Debenhams Building Could Be Transformed Into Storage Space Under Plans
Cape Gazette, Milton Council to Discuss Route 16 Storage Facility
Coastal Point, Hardy’s Self Storage Celebrates Phase 3 Expansion With Ribbon-Cutting
Daily Journal of Commerce, Self-Storage Planned for Elliott Avenue
New Haven Register, Self-Storage Company Eyes Move to Shelton’s Bridgeport Avenue
PR Newswire, U-Haul Creating 20 Jobs, 800 Self-Storage Units at Former Lawton Kmart
Press-Citizen, New Indoor Market Planned for Vacant Slumberland Building in Iowa City's South District
San Fernando Valley Business Journal, Self-Storage Developers Are Not Slowing Down
Tap Into Camden, Vacant Admiral Wilson Boulevard Building to Become Self-Storage Facility
The Real Deal, Developer Wants to Pack More Self Storage Into Van Nuys Site
The Recorder, More Self-Storage Units Proposed on Maple Avenue in Town of Amsterdam
The Virginia Pilot, Virginia Beach Wells Fargo Building to Be Razed, Replaced By Self-Storage Facility
TMJ4, Former Walmart at Milwaukee's Midtown Center Sold for $3M to Self-Storage Company
WVNS TV, New Storage Facility Opens in Bluewell
Newtown Bee, IWC Approves Commerce Road Self-Storage Facility
Cape Gazette, Milton Planners Approve YourSpace Special-Use Permit
Newtown Bee, P&Z Approves Self-Storage Facility Special Exception
Cape Gazette, Milton Planners Approve Storage Facility Site Plans

Previous Sources:
Akron Beacon Journal, Plans Unveiled for Goddard School Addition, Storage Units
Boise Development, Storage Facility With Fire Station Possible in McCall
Brentwood, Darek Bell Brings Another Storage Facility to Goose Creek
Gettysburg Times, Storage Units Proposed on Fairfield Road
Gulfshore Business, New Self Storage Facility Coming to Fort Myers
LancasterOnline, East Lampeter Twp. Accepts Zoning Amendment for Self-Storage Facility Proposal
Lexington Clipper-Herald, Lexington Self-Storage Redevelopment Plan Gets Final Approval From CDA
Long Island.com, New Self-Storage Facility Planned for Sunrise Highway in Copiague
Morningstar, Big Yellow Strikes Deal With Segro for Prime Site in Slough
Nashville Post, Distiller Eyes WillCo Self-Storage Project
Perth Now, KeepSafe Self-Storage Facility Approved to Replace Soils Ain’t Soils on Winton Road in Joondalup
PR Newswire, Mag Mile Capital Finalizes $4 Million Loan for Self-Storage Renovation Project in Heart of Memphis
Punchline, New Storage Concept on Former Lidl Site
The Bangor Aye, 100 Storage Units Planned for Land Off Euston Road in Bangor
The Newtown Bee, IWC Hears Presentation for Proposed Commerce Road Storage Facility

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